WHO WE ARE
Carolyn was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States with her family as a teenager. Her experience allows her to appreciate the significance of immigration decisions and the impact they can have on individuals, families, and businesses. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and began her legal career in 2001 as a Department of Justice Honors Program attorney with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. She subsequently served as an Assistant District Counsel for INS and Assistant Chief Counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, litigating thousands of immigration court cases involving both detained and non-detained individuals.
In 2008, Carolyn entered private practice, representing individuals and businesses in immigration matters as well as related business, employment, and litigation matters. She returned to federal service in 2011 as an attorney with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), where she advised and trained agency personnel, handled federal litigation, and served in supervisory roles.
Carolyn then became Deputy Chief Counsel for Headquarters Management, a Senior Executive Service position within the USCIS Office of Chief Counsel. She oversaw headquarters legal divisions and advised on complex immigration, regulatory, policy, and operational matters. She also served as a senior attorney detailed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of General Counsel, advising senior DHS officials and White House Counsel on a broad range of immigration and humanitarian programs.
Carolyn brings to her practice an uncommon combination of litigation experience, government leadership, and direct-client representation. She understands both the law and the institutions responsible for administering it. She is committed to providing trustworthy, thoughtful, and effective guidance to clients navigating an increasingly complex immigration system.
A Cum Laude graduate of the University of Washington, Brendan earned his degree in Law, Societies, and Justice with a minor in Political Science. He was a part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and is a Phi Beta Kappa inductee. Within the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, Brendan was a Research Assistant for the UW Center for Human Rights under Professors Ann Frost and Katherine Beckett. He conducted field interviews, managed complex data procurement, and assisted in writing publication sections focused on systemic reform of the Washington State carceral system.
His professional background spans defense strategy, clemency advocacy, and human rights research. Brendan has worked directly alongside defense attorneys in active courtroom proceedings, managing trial files and analyzing statutory precedents. He has also served as a primary liaison for clients, drafting critical correspondence and preparing detailed clemency petitions with the Seattle Clemency Project. His work with individuals navigating the legal system deepened his understanding of how human experiences can be flattened to institutional classifications and simplified narratives. He strives to resist that reduction. Outside of his legal work, Brendan is a professional baseball pitcher pursuing his goal of playing in the Major Leagues. While law and baseball take up much of his time, Brendan makes a point of staying connected to the community.